Friday, June 11, 2010

Homemade Laundry Detergent--


Ok not a tasty treat but I thought I would give the Duggar Laundry Detergent a try!
I think it turned out quite well and my first loads of laundry are clean and fresh!

the first batch lasted me a good 3 months with 3 little boys having a very dirty summer!!!


Second Batch I modified a bit!!! Look for Edits in RED
Overall I think the second batch came out better, feels a little more "commercial" thickness
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*(second batch I used 1.5 cups)
½ Cup Borax(second batch I used 3/4 cup)
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.
Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.



edit for 2nd batch. I added the melted soap, borax and washing soda to the bucket FIRST and dissolved the powder before adding any water, then added 1/2 bucket of water, mixed well, then filled it. It seemed to distribute MUCH easier and started thickening IMMEDIATELY! And i felt there was less clumping of the borax...which I found to be an issues as I neared the end of the first batch
Fill bucket to top with more hot water.
Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap(EDIT AUG 2010--I fill it about 2/3-full and fill it with water from there)
and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
EDIT AUG 2010--- I used about 50 drops to up the scent!!!
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased at Alice.com
Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

5 comments:

  1. You are the BEST! AS if you didn't know that already. I've been looking for something like this for awhile! I'll try this out when I get a chance!

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  2. I doubled the essential oils and I am thinking of adding even more. The scent is just a little TOO mild. I LOVE good smells!

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  3. Good smells are..well good :) ha. I just have to find somewhere to store this stuff. Does it work well on good stains? My kids are masters at making them. There isn't a laundry that I like yet, maybe this will be it!

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  4. Oddly enough my boys are not big stainers....but so far I think it is cleaning pretty well. The Fels Naptha soap is an excellent stain remover....

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  5. Also everyone please note that this detergent does NOT suds up like commercial stuff. That is why it works so well in HE machines. It also is quite a bit thinner than commercial detergents. I found that cutting it 2/3 and 1/3 water instead of 1/2 and 1/2 made it feel a little more like "regular"

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